Kobe Bryant, known for his Mamba Mentality, continued to embody this belief after retiring from the NBA. He fearlessly pursued excellence, never considering himself inferior, not even to Michael Jordan. Initially compared to Jordan upon entering the league in 1996, Bryant mirrored aspects of MJ’s game not to imitate him, but to strive for greatness.
Bryant, who initially encountered challenges in the league, eventually emerged as one of the NBA’s most gifted scorers. Despite doubts, he opted to take last-second shots himself, driven not by selfishness but by his unyielding self-assurance. His former teammate, Lamar Odom recently reminisced about Bryant’s confidence alongside Ron Artest on “The LADE Show.”
He recounted a conversation from “The LADE Show,” where Kobe Bryant asserted his claim as the best player after hitting the game-winning shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2004.
Lamar Odom said:
We were on a bus one night. I think this is when after he hit this nice game-winner against Milwaukee. My n**ga come on the bus and say in front of me, he says, “Yo! I am better than Mike”… I was like, ‘You better than Mike? That’s how you feeling?’
Lamar Odom said
Kobe harbored a genuine obsession with surpassing Michael Jordan, using it as his driving force throughout his career in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant dismissed the idea that he became great just by studying Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant, widely regarded as a basketball icon, diligently studied the skills of legends like Michael Jordan, earning comparisons for his style on the court. Despite being likened to Jordan, Bryant emphasized that his greatness stemmed from more than just imitation. Renowned for his work ethic, he acknowledged that his success went beyond studying Jordan’s game footage.
The Late Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan (via Open Source/X)Speaking to Bleacher Report in 2014 on his relationship with MJ, he said:
The thing that I always bristled at was the notion that I learned everything that I know from Michael. That’s just not true.
Kobe Bryant said
Bryant highlighted MJ’s relentless aggression as the standout trait he admired. According to Bryant, it wasn’t any single game or play but rather Jordan’s unwavering assertiveness that impressed him. Describing it as a combination of intense conditioning, skill, and mental fortitude.
